Research reviewed by Gram found that most adults in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, do not understand the soft drink excise tax. In a 2023 survey of 370 adults, 52.7% were unaware of the tax and 64.9% did not know its health purpose. Awareness was linked to healthier drink choices but not directly to body weight.
According to research reviewed by Gram, most adults in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, do not know much about the excise tax on soft drinks that the country introduced in 2017. In a 2023 survey of 370 adults aged 18 to 45, more than half (52.7%) said they were unaware of the tax, and 64.9% did not know the health reason behind it. People with more education and higher income were more likely to know about the tax, and those who knew about it tended to choose healthier drinks. However, after accounting for age, gender, education, and income, awareness was not linked to body weight measured by BMI. The study suggests that clearer public education about the tax’s health purpose could help it work better, although a survey like this cannot prove cause and effect.
Key Statistics
A 2023 cross-sectional survey of 370 adults in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, found that 52.7% of respondents were unaware of the soft drink excise tax introduced in 2017.
The same survey found that 64.9% of respondents lacked knowledge of the health rationale behind the soft drink tax.
After adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors, awareness of the soft drink excise tax was not significantly associated with body mass index in this 2023 study (p = 0.86).
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Researchers wanted to know whether people in Al-Ahsa understood the soft drink tax, who was most likely to know about it, and whether knowing about it was linked to body weight and drink choices.
- Who participated: 370 adults between 18 and 45 years old living in Al-Ahsa Governorate, Saudi Arabia. Participants filled out an online questionnaire in February and March 2023 about their income, education, drinking habits, and self-reported height and weight.
- Key finding: More than half of participants (52.7%) had never heard of the soft drink tax, and 64.9% did not know its health purpose. Awareness was linked to education, income, gender, age, and weight category, but it was not linked to BMI once those factors were taken into account (p = 0.86).
- What it means for you: Knowing why a tax exists may matter for how people respond to it. People who knew about the tax were more likely to pick healthier drinks, but this study cannot show that the tax itself changes body weight. Learning the health reasons behind price changes may still help you make more informed drink choices.
The Research Details
This was a cross-sectional survey, which means researchers collected information from many people at a single point in time rather than following them over months or years. The survey was run between February and March 2023 among adults aged 18 to 45 in Al-Ahsa Governorate. Participants completed a validated electronic questionnaire, a tested form designed to gather reliable answers, covering their socioeconomic background, how often they drink soft drinks, what they knew about the tax, and their body measurements.
Because height and weight were self-reported, participants told researchers their own numbers rather than being measured by staff. Researchers then calculated body mass index (BMI), a common rough measure of body weight relative to height. They used several standard statistical tests to look for patterns, including comparisons between groups and correlation tests that show whether two things tend to move together.
To check whether education, income, gender, and age were skewing the results, the team used a statistical method called analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). This step helps separate the effect of the tax awareness itself from the effects of other personal factors.
A survey like this is a useful first look at how a public health policy is being understood. It can show who is aware of a policy and who is not, which helps officials decide where to focus education. Because the survey asked about awareness, knowledge, drink habits, and body weight together, it can reveal connections that a single question could miss.
The design also has a clear limit: it captures a snapshot. It can show that two things occur together, but it cannot show that one causes the other. Understanding this helps readers interpret the findings correctly.
The study used a validated questionnaire and a sample of 370 people, which is a reasonable size for a local survey. Multiple statistical methods were used, and the authors adjusted for several demographic and economic factors, which strengthens the analysis. Results were reported with p-values, a standard way of showing how unlikely a result would be if there were truly no link.
However, the sample was drawn from one province, so results may not represent all of Saudi Arabia. Self-reported height and weight can be less accurate than measured values, and the survey relied on participants’ memory and honesty. Readers should view these findings as useful but preliminary.
What the Results Show
The most striking result was how little the public knew. More than half of respondents (52.7%) were unaware that Saudi Arabia had an excise tax on soft drinks, and 64.9% did not understand the health reason for the tax. The tax was introduced in 2017 to discourage consumption of sugary drinks linked to overweight, obesity, and related diseases, so this gap suggests the message behind the policy has not fully reached the public.
Awareness was not spread evenly across the population. Participants with higher education, additional income, and certain demographic characteristics were more likely to know about the tax. The researchers also found that people who were aware of the tax tended to make healthier beverage choices, which suggests that knowledge may influence everyday decisions.
The picture changed when the researchers accounted for other factors. After adjusting for demographic, social, and economic characteristics, awareness of the tax was not significantly associated with BMI (p = 0.86). In plain terms, knowing about the tax did not appear to be connected to body weight in this group once other personal factors were considered.
The researchers also reported associations between tax awareness and BMI category when looking at the data without adjustment, which is a sign that weight and awareness share some overlapping background factors. Once the statistical model controlled for education, income, gender, and age, that link disappeared. This means the apparent connection was likely shaped by who people are, not by the tax itself.
The finding that awareness was connected to healthier drink choices is practically meaningful, even though it does not prove the tax changed behavior. It suggests that people who understand a policy may be more likely to act in line with its goals.
Public health researchers have often found that taxes on sugary drinks work best when people understand and accept them. Many policies in other countries have shown that price changes alone are not always enough, and that clear messaging helps. This study fits that pattern by showing a substantial knowledge gap in Saudi Arabia, suggesting that the tax’s health purpose has not been widely communicated.
The study is a single snapshot, so it cannot show cause and effect. It is also limited to adults aged 18 to 45 in one province, which means the results may not apply to older adults, other regions, or the country as a whole. Height and weight were self-reported, which can lead to small errors in BMI calculations. Because participants chose to respond, the group may not perfectly reflect the wider population. Finally, the survey measured awareness at one moment, so it cannot tell whether awareness changes over time.
The Bottom Line
Moderate confidence: Public health efforts to explain the purpose of the soft drink tax appear worthwhile, since most participants did not understand its health rationale. Moderate confidence: Choosing water, unsweetened drinks, or smaller portions of soft drinks is a sensible step for most adults, based on broader nutrition research. Low confidence: This study alone does not prove that learning about the tax will change body weight.
Adults in Saudi Arabia, especially those who drink soft drinks regularly, may find this useful for understanding the tax and its health purpose. Health educators, policymakers, and program planners may find the knowledge gap especially relevant. People outside this age range or region should be cautious about applying these specific findings to their own situation. Anyone with a medical condition, such as diabetes, should discuss drink choices with a healthcare provider.
Changes in knowledge can happen within weeks of learning about a policy, but changes in body weight usually take months of consistent habits. Shifting from regular soft drinks to water or unsweetened drinks may show noticeable effects over several months, though results vary widely between individuals. Any policy effect on public health would likely be measured over years, not days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people in Saudi Arabia know about the soft drink tax?
In a 2023 survey of 370 adults in Al-Ahsa Province, 52.7% said they were unaware of the soft drink excise tax. Among those who knew about it, awareness was higher among people with more education and higher income.
Does knowing about the soft drink tax help people choose healthier drinks?
The study found that people who were aware of the excise tax tended to make healthier beverage choices. However, this was a snapshot survey, so it cannot prove that awareness caused the change in drinking habits.
Is the soft drink tax in Saudi Arabia linked to lower body weight?
After adjusting for age, gender, education, and income, awareness of the soft drink tax was not significantly associated with BMI in the 2023 study of 370 adults (p = 0.86). Researchers concluded that more public education may help the tax work better.
When did Saudi Arabia introduce its soft drink excise tax?
Saudi Arabia introduced an excise tax on soft drinks in 2017 as a response to rising rates of overweight, obesity, and related diseases. A 2023 study found that many adults in Al-Ahsa were still unaware of the tax or its health purpose.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log how many soft drinks you have each week, along with the size of each serving. Track this for four weeks as a baseline, then note your weekly total. Also record whether you chose a sugary drink, a diet option, or water on each occasion.
- Try replacing one regular soft drink per day with water, sparkling water, or an unsweetened drink. Set a reminder at the time you usually reach for a soft drink, and log the swap in the app. Over a few weeks, aim to reduce your weekly soft drink count by a measurable amount.
- Review your drink log monthly and compare your weekly soft drink count to your baseline. If you track weight, record it weekly using the same scale and conditions, and look at monthly averages rather than daily changes. Share your progress with a healthcare provider if you have health concerns.
This article summarizes a single cross-sectional survey and is for general information only. The study cannot prove that the soft drink tax causes changes in weight or drinking habits. Self-reported height and weight may be less accurate than measured values. If you have questions about your diet, weight, or a health condition such as diabetes, please talk with a qualified healthcare provider.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.